2 Chronicles 14 · a question people ask
If Asa relied on the LORD, why did he build walls and keep an army?
The chapter tells both, and ties the building to the seeking. Asa says, "Let’s build these cities and make walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. The land is yet before us, because we have sought the LORD our God" (14:7), and "So they built and prospered" (14:7). It names his army and its weapons (14:8). Then, with the army standing in the valley (14:10), Asa prays, "there is no one besides you to help" and "we rely on you" (14:11), and the chapter says who won the day: "So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah" (14:12), for "they were destroyed before the LORD and before his army" (14:13). The chapter doesn't set the walls or the army against the prayer. Where 2 Chronicles later speaks against Asa's relying, it is about sending to the king of Syria: "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God" (16:7).
The verses
“For he said to Judah, “Let’s build these cities and make walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. The land is yet before us, because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered. Asa had an army of three hundred thousand out of Judah who bore bucklers and spears, and two hundred eighty thousand out of Benjamin who bore shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor.”
“At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped out of your hand.”